Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-22 at 14:06

HEADLINES Israeli strike kills Hamas commander al-Hudaydi Israel hits Hezbollah near Lebanon border Canada UAE back two-state peace bid The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good morning. Here is the latest hour’s news from the Middle East and related global developments. In Gaza, Israeli forces conducted an airstrike in the Rimal neighborhood, aimed at Hamas targets, and reports say Abu Abdullah al-Hudaydi, described as a senior commander in Hamas’s military wing, was killed in the operation. Al-Arabiya attributed the claim to its reporting and said the strike occurred as part of ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Officials say Israeli forces have been conducting strikes across Gaza in response to earlier attacks, with the campaign continuing as the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire and international calls for de‑escalation persist. On the northern front, Israel’s military said it carried out strikes in southern Lebanon, and residents in northern Israel were warned that explosions they may hear could be connected to these operations. The Israeli defense establishment has repeatedly described such actions as aimed at Hezbollah and other targets aligned with that group, while stressing the intent to minimize civilian harm and to deter across the border. Diplomatic and strategic currents in the region continue to unfold. Canada’s prime minister and the UAE president met in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of international discussions, affirming a shared commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on a two‑state solution. They underscored the importance of stabilizing Gaza and accelerating reconstruction to address humanitarian needs, while also highlighting broader cooperation across energy, defense, technology, and critical minerals as part of their bilateral agenda. In parallel, an analysis piece outlines shifting models for Middle East order, noting that Washington’s recalibration invites regional powers to shape a Saudi‑led framework. The piece suggests Riyadh is pursuing a vision that could redefine regional security and economic arrangements amidst evolving alignments with the United States and other partners. From the Arab press and regional commentary, there are recurring themes about Israel’s security posture, the status of ceasefires, and evolving Saudi posture, along with questions about how future arrangements might address Hezbollah and broader regional security issues. A weekly digest also compiles perspectives on Israel’s use of technology and the broader political dynamics affecting the region. In a separate operational update, the Israeli military noted continued air and ground activity in Gaza in response to ongoing ceasefire violations attributed to Hamas. The military has reported multiple strikes on Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip in the past hours, with statements reinforcing that security operations will persist as long as threats remain, along with assessments that tactical breaches warrant focused responses. Turning to the Levant, there were reports of further Israeli strikes in the southern Lebanon region in conjunction with the day’s border activity. The Israeli side says these operations are aimed at neutralizing threats near the border and upholding the security commitments with neighboring states, while Lebanese and regional observers monitor the implications for regional stability. Turning to wider geopolitics, reports from Washington and Riyadh describe discussions about the future security and political landscape of the Middle East. One analytic briefing flags a Saudi‑centered approach to regional order, with Saudi leadership advocating a framework that could reshape security guarantees, energy governance, and diplomatic engagement across Gulf, Levant, and broader Arab world. The discussion comes amid broader debates about how to reconcile security guarantees, economic partnerships, and the Palestinian track within any longer‑term arrangement. Saudi development and policy narratives continue to emphasize a modernization drive under Vision 2030, including advances in technology and civilian nuclear development, alongside active involvement in regional diplomacy over the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict. Observers note Riyadh’s growing influence as a stabilizing partner in some corridors of the region, even as it pursues a more assertive regional role. In the climate policy arena, COP30 in Belem, Brazil, has reached an impasse. Delegates from many nations opposed a Brazilian‑led proposal that would omit explicit fossil‑fuel phase‑out language and instead pursue a more generalized transition away from fossil fuels. The United States is not participating in this year’s talks, and European Union officials have insisted that any credible outcome must explicitly name fossil fuels and include a concrete path to reducing oil, gas, and coal use. The stalemate has been compounded by logis